Lighting Designs

[J Pearce]

I find the initial design process flows better if I work paper and pencil, then transfer to CAD if necessary (I design a lot of smaller stuff, rigged by me and an assistant, so mega smart plans aren't needed).

 

I just find CAD restricts my creative flow, so I'll create a fag packet design when I'm in 'creative mode' then later produce a tidier stencilled or CAD'd drawing for rigging from.

[Stupod]

If you have not tried wyg recently visit http://demo.wysiwygsuite.com/ and download the demo version of R22... you might just be surprised at the improvements :D

 

Stu

 

Just comparing Capture to Wyg for live visualision, Wyg is just awful. GrandMA give there visualiser away for free and it's comparable to Wyg. However, it does produce very good photorealistic renderings and good paperwork, but I thought this was about visualisation.

 

Cheers

 

Mic

[Roderick]

I didn't mean to offend Genus, but the question was "As designers, should we be relying on swanky visualisation software or should we be able to 'visualise' our rigs/designs in our heads when doing a design?", and I was merely giving my experiences from someone who works on 'real' events/concerts in the 'real' world with 'real' LDs and designers - I have done this for some time for a very well known and respected rental company, which is where the 'proper' designers come to when they design an event, if that makes sense? And, these also pay my mortgage.

 

I am sorry, but I am offended by these remarks.

Calling a person who starts off the design with a hazer and solely relies on the di-chroic filters in the latest wobbly fixture a 'real' LD versus a designer who actually knows the different effect between Lee & Rosco and carefully selects the most appropriate fixture to realise their vision is offending for all designers.

Personally I have more respect for someone who can create an amazing image on stage with a handful of fresnels than someone who needs 200 MAC whatever to give a 'wow' factor.

And yes, it has been sometime since I used a stencil, although I still have them - even the one from VariLite!, and do most of my work in AutoCad.

[merlin24]

Just comparing Capture to Wyg for live visualision, Wyg is just awful.

 

I don't think Capture has anything on Wyg anymore.... Have you actually looked at Release 22....?? Their whole new beams thing is a huge leap and once R23 is out (before the end of the year) I don't think much will come close to it. The Demo of that was posted would not make me buy the product. Trust me in what I do I have seen all that is out there to offer.

[david.elsbury]

Yes, but you're not exactly unbiased there, are you Andy? :D

[Nick512]

Don't often have too much to say around here but, this thread caught my attention. I do provide designs for some of the biggest shows around and spend half my time tendering new designs to artists/managers/accountants!!!. These shows can be anything from a club show to a stadium tour, the basic principle remains the same.

 

I use a variety of software from AutoCad, Vectorworks, ESP Vision, Photoshop, Cinema 4d... I even have an artist I use for ink drawings and sketches. most of the visualization happen before there is even a plot in place.. once we agree on a design ill sit down with a piece of paper, come up with a plot I like and transfer to CAD before sending out for tender. then depending on budget or any number of other reasons will amend in CAD before the final version is distributed to all relevant departments.

 

This is my way of working, others who do the same as me are very different, it all comes down to what you need to achieve for your show. Way before a plot or visualization is produced I know in my head exactly the look I am going for, There are many wonderful tools out there to help you get this from your head into the hands of your client and I think how you do this is totally dependent on who is going to see it and what type of show it is. At the end of the day as long as what you put in front of them accurately portrays whats in your head then you have used the right tool for the job.

 

Just the thing a few minutes in photoshop could do. Photrealistic lighting fades and shadows but still silly stick men rather tha people

 

I would love to see how a few minutes in Photoshop could create a photorealistic image of how the lighting would look, with depth and shadows. Maybe you could show us your attempts?

 

 

Created totally in photoshop.. I love how this turned out, captures the energy of the show..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v640/nickvislight/scene2.jpg

[merlin24]

Yes, but you're not exactly unbiased there, are you Andy? :D

 

That came from me... Hence the reason there was no signature etc etc.

I do actually use it as well as train and support it. However my job does allow me to see and use other competing products, and personally I happen to think that Wysiwyg does have the edge over competitors purely for the reason it does everything in one app. It is a lighting design package rather than a CAD package with addons.